Serum 5'nucleotidase activity in rats: a method for automated analysis and criteria for interpretation

A manual kit for determining serum 5'nucleotidase (5'NT, EC 3.1.3.5) activity was adapted for use with rat samples on a large discrete clinical chemistry analyzer. The precision of the method was good (within-run C.V. = 2.14%; between-run C.V. = 5.5%). A comparison of the new automated method with a manual and semi-automated method gave regression statistics of y = 1.18X -3.66 (Sy. x = 4.54), and y = 0.733X + 1.97 (Sy. x = 1.69), respectively. Temperature conversion factors provided by the kit manufacturer for human samples were determined to be inaccurate for converting results from rat samples. Analysis of components contributing to normal variation in rat serum 5'NT activity showed age and sex to be major factors. Increased serum 5'NT activity was observed in female rats when compared to male rats beginning at about 5 to 6 weeks of age. An analysis of variance of serum 5'NT, alkaline phosphatase, and GGT activities observed over a 9-week period in normal rats suggests several advantages for 5'NT as a predictor of biliary lesions in rats.     

In ovo embryotoxicity of α-endosulfan adversely influences liver and brain metabolism and the immune system in chickens

There is a lack of laboratory-based embryonic chicken toxicity studies with the ecologically relevant low dose/s of endosulfan that utilizes a more practical approach such as the chorioallontoic membrane (CAM) injection. In this investigation, 2μg AR grade α-endosulfan/egg (40% of LD₅₀ for embryos) was injected through the CAM in 12-day-old chicken embryos and the activities of glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase, EC 3.1.3.9), fructose 1,6-diphosphatase (FDPase, EC 3.1.3.11), adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase, EC 3.6.1.3) and succinic dehydrogenase (SDH, EC 1.3.99.1) and DNA and RNA content in liver and brain tissues and acetyl cholinesterase (AChE, EC 3.1.1.7) in the latter were determined at 24, 48, and 72 h post-exposure. The wet weight of the embryos did not differ between groups. Following endosulfan exposure, except increase in the hepatic ATPase activity (P < 0.01), there was a significant decrease in the following parameters: G6Pase activity in both the liver and brain (P < 0.01), SDH activity in the brain (P < 0.01), brain overall DNA and RNA concentration (P < 0.05), brain AChE activity (P < 0.01). Exposure of 18-day-old embryos to 2-μg endosulfan for 24 h caused decrease (P < 0.01) in the lymphocyte count and IgG content. Histopathology of thymus and bursa of Fabricius revealed a reduction in the population of thymic follicles, smaller thymocytes with the clear vacuoles in cytoplasm and fewer bursocytes accompanied by infiltration of erythrocytes in lymphoid follicles of the endosulfan-treated embryos. It was inferred that in ovo injection of 0.041 μg/g egg weight of α-endosulfan suppress gluconeogenesis (main energy source in embryonic life), nerve transmission, and immunity.     

番茄不同部位中糖含量和相关酶活性的研究

 试验将番茄光合产物运转途径上叶片(源) 、运输系统以及果实(库) 区分开, 分别测定其糖的组成和含量以及糖代谢相关酶的活性。结果表明: 番茄光合产物运转途径上从“源”到“库”各部位糖的组成和含量不同。叶肉中果糖的含量最高, 蔗糖的含量最低; 中筋中以果糖和葡萄糖为主; 叶柄维管束中葡萄糖含量最高, 蔗糖含量次之, 果糖含量最低。节间和果柄维管束中主要含有蔗糖。果实维管束以及果实内各部位中则主要含有葡萄糖和果糖, 且两者含量无显著差异, 蔗糖含量很低。萼片中葡萄糖含量最高, 蔗糖含量最低; 果蒂中3种糖含量均较高且无显著差异。番茄叶肉及光合产物运转组织中转化酶活性很低, 而在库器官的非维管组织中转化酶活性较高。果蒂中的蔗糖合成酶( SS) 活性最高, 其次是叶肉和运转组织, 果实内各部位中SS活性较低。在合成蔗糖的器官—叶肉中, 有较高的蔗糖磷酸合成酶( SPS) 活性, 运转组织中的SPS活性较叶肉中降低, 但果柄维管束和果实维管束中则表现出较高SPS活性, 果肉、果胶质胎座及心室隔壁中的SPS活性最低。     

Effect of live weight and dietary supplement of raw potato starch on the levels of skatole, androstenone, testosterone and oestrone sulphate in entire male pigs

This study evaluated the effect of supplement of raw potato starch (RPS) on the levels of skatole, androstenone, testosterone and oestrone sulphate in plasma from entire male pigs. The study also evaluated relationships between plasma levels of skatole and testicular steroids at three different live weights (LW) of approximately 90, 100 and 115 kg. A total of 111 entire male pigs of a crossbred (Yorkshire dams×Swedish Landrace sires) were used. Animals were raised either in mixed pens, with females and males, or single-sex pens. Each pen contained seven or nine pigs. The most fast-growing three pigs from the pens with nine pigs were slaughtered when they reached 90 kg LW, and the remaining pigs were slaughtered at 115 kg LW. All pigs were fed the same commercial diet until the average pen weight reached 100 kg. Then, 33 out of 80 remaining pigs received RPS, 0.6 kg per pig and day, for 2 weeks prior to slaughter. Blood samples were taken from the pigs at three occasions: first, the day prior to first slaughter occasion, low-weight group; second, the day prior to change in diet, middle-weight group; and third, the day prior to second slaughter occasion, high-weight group. Plasma was analysed for the levels of skatole, androstenone, testosterone and oestrone sulphate. Fat samples were taken at slaughter and analysed for the levels of skatole and androstenone. The levels of skatole and testicular steroids in plasma were significantly higher in entire male pigs from the high-weight group fed no RPS compared to those from low- and middle-weight groups. The levels of the investigated compounds did not differ between low- and middle-weight groups (P>0.1). The diet with RPS induced a decline in skatole levels in plasma and fat (P<0.001), but not plasma levels of testicular steroids and fat levels of androstenone (P>0.05). Skatole levels were positively correlated to testosterone and oestrone sulphate levels in the middle- and high-weight pigs fed no RPS as well as to testosterone in the low-weight group. In the high-weight group fed RPS, skatole levels were not correlated to any of the analysed compounds. Approximately 26% of the entire male pigs (11 out of 43) from the high-weight group fed no RPS produced skatole levels in fat above 0.20 μg/g, whereas the pigs from the low- and high-weight group fed RPS did not produce skatole levels above 0.20 μg/g in fat. Androstenone levels in fat were high in all groups. In total 47% (52 out of 111) pigs expressed androstenone levels above the rejection levels in fat of 1.0 μg/g and 88% (98 out of 111) had androstenone levels above 0.5 μg/g. It was concluded that a lower slaughter weight and the supplement of raw potato starch to the diet could be used to reduce skatole levels in entire male pigs. Androstenone levels in fat, however, could not be reduced by either a lower weight at slaughter or dietary manipulation.     

反刍动物过瘤胃淀粉研究进展

过瘤胃淀粉是高产反刍动物葡萄糖的重要来源之一。本文阐述了过瘤胃淀粉在反刍动物营养中的作用,以及提高饲料过瘤胃淀粉比例的处理方法,并根据近年来的应用研究状况,提出了过瘤胃淀粉在应用中存在的问题及今后的研究方向。     

甲酸钙的合成、测定及其在乳猪料中的应用

甲酸钙作为一种饲料添加剂,能降低和调节胃肠道pH值、促进营养物质的消化和吸收。本文系统介绍了甲酸钙的合成和检测方法,并介绍了甲酸钙作为饲料添加剂的作用效果。     

Biosynthesis of Depsipeptide Mycotoxins in Fusarium

The cyclic hexadepsipeptide enniatin is known as a phytopathogenic compound from Fusaria causing necrosis and wilt. The molecule consists of three alternating residues each of a branched chain amino acid and D-hydroxyisovaleric acid (D-Hiv). Enniatins are synthesized by a 347kDa multienzyme (enniatin synthetase) via a thiol template mechanism. The corresponding gene esyn1 has an open reading frame of 9393 nucleotides and harbours two modules, one responsible for D-hydroxy acid activation and one for L-amino acid activation with an integrated N-methyltransferase domain. Such methyltransferases build an homologous group among N-methyl peptide synthetases. Enniatins are synthesized by step-wise condensation of dipeptidol building blocks in an iterative manner resembling fatty acid synthesis. A key enzyme in enniatin biosynthesis is the NADPH-dependent D-2-hydroxyisovalerate dehydrogenase, that supplies enniatin synthetase with D-Hiv. Enniatins contribute to the wilt toxic character of Fusaria. Virulence was significantly reduced in F. avenaceum after disruption of the esyn1 gene.     

Potato diseases caused by soft rot erwinias: an overview of pathogenesis

Three soft rot erwinias, Erwinia carotovora ssp. carotovora , E. carotovora ssp. atroseptica and E. chrysanthemi are associated with potatoes causing tuber soft rot and blackleg (stem rot). Latent infection of tubers and stems is widespread. As opportunistic pathogens, the bacteria tend to cause disease when potato resistance is impaired. Pathogenesis or disease development in potato tubers and stems is discussed in terms of the interaction between pathogen, host and environment, microbial competition and recent findings on the molecular basis of pathogenicity. Emphasis is placed on the role of free water and anaerobiosis in weakening tuber resistance and in providing nutrient for erwinias to multiply. Blackleg symptoms are expressed when erwinias predominate in rotting mother tubers, invade the stems and multiply in xylem vessels under favourable weather conditions. Soft rot erwinias tend to out-compete other bacteria in tuber rots because of their ability to produce larger quantities of a wider range of cell wall-degrading enzymes. However, despite extensive studies on their induction, regulation and secretion, little is known about the precise role of the different enzymes in pathogenesis. The putative role of quorum-sensing regulation of these enzymes in disease development is evaluated. The role certain pathogenicity-related characters, including motility, adhesion, siderophores, detoxifying systems and the hrp gene complex, common to most bacteria including symbionts and saprophytes, could play in latent and active infections is also discussed.     

1-(1-苯基-1,2,4-三氮唑-3-氧代乙酰氧基)烃基膦酸酯的合成与植物生长调节活性

合成了一系列新的1-(1-苯基-1, 2, 4-三氮唑-3-氧代乙酰氧基) 烃基膦酸酯, 并测定了它们对小麦和黄瓜的植物生长调节活性。结果表明, 在100 Lg/g 时, 所有化合物对小麦芽鞘的生长具有抑制作用, 而在10 Lg/g时化合物6a、6g 对黄瓜显示了较高的促生长活性。     

新型取代氨基(或芳氧)磺酰基苯氧丙酸酯的合成及其除草活性

由α-苯氧基丙酸酯出发,合成了取代氨基(或芳氧)磺酰基苯氧丙酸酯,并测定了它们的除草活性。所有的化合物均经1H NMR和元素分析确证,初步的生测结果表明上述化合物具有一定的除草活性。